Mining loading machine



Dec. 31, 1946.

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Dec. 31, 1946. E N 2,413,508

MINING LOADING MACHINE Original Filed 001;. 22, 1937 4 Sheets-sheet 5 f/vvE/y TOR NILS D. LEVIN,

Dec. 31, 1946. N; D. LEVIN 2,413,508

' MINING LOADING MACHINE Original Filed 001: 22, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATT'Y,

Patented Dec. 31, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MINING LOADING MACHINE Nils D. Levin, Columbus, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of'Ohio 11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a mining loading machine and more particularly to a frontal attack type of machine adapted to break down coal particularly when in a semi-compact state after being shot and to load it into a mine car in a continuous operation.

An object of the invention therefore is to produce a machine of the above mentioned type.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which is fundamentally and primarily a loading machine but which is so constructed as to be able to dig into loose or semi-compact coal.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of the above mentioned type in which there is gathering mechanism including gathering chains which carry bits adapted to dig under a mass of coal and tear the coal loose so that the coal above the bits will fall forwardly of itself and be conveyed rearwardly of the machine.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set ,forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. i is a plan view of the loading machine comprising my invention with the swinging boom of the" discharge conveyor cut short;

Figs. 2 and 3 placedend to end comprise a side elevational view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical'longitudinal sectional view of the loader comprising my invention showing particularly the rear end portion thereof;

Fig. 5 comprises an extension of Fig. 4 and shows the operating mechanism for the forward end of the device, the extreme forward end of the gathering conveyor being out off;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional View taken along the line T-| of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the continuous chain and connected flights of the gathering conveyor;

Fig. 9 is a rear elevational' view of the conveyor flight showing the conveyor chain in section;

Fig, 10 is a side elevatio-nal view of the flight showing particularly the side attached to and adjacentthe conveyor chain;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional View showing the mounting of removable bits or picks carried by the flight;

Fig. 12 is a side view of a form of conveyor flight which does not carry a bit or pick, showing the side adjacent and attached to the chain; and

Fig. 13 is a rear view of the flight of Fig. .12. This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 170,426, filed October 22, 1937, for an improvement in a Loading machine.

As illustrated generally in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the loading machine comprising my invention is primarily a frontal attack machine but provision is made whereby a gathering conveyor cannot become wedged into. the material beingload'ed in that the attack is not confined to a frontal attack but also includes a lateral attack at both sides of'the forward end of the gathering conveyor.

The said loading machine comprises a track mounted truck '40 upon which is mounted a gathering conveyor 4| and a discharge conveyor 42, the former being adapted to dig into and gather loose or semi-compact coal and to convey it to the latter by which it is discharged into track 'mounted coal cars, one of which is illustrated at 43 (Figs. 2 and 3).

As will be hereinafter described in complete detail, power means is provided to tram the loading machine along the mine tracks at a relatively fast speed, and to operate it along said tracks ata feeding or operating peed while at the same time operating the gathering and discharge conveyors to gather and load coal into coal cars 43.

As best seen by reference to Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the truck 40 comprises a main frame formed by longitudinally extending side members 45. rigidly attached together at their forward ends by an arcuate front cross-piece formed by spaced members 45, preferably welded to the side members 44 and rigidly attached at their rear ends, as by welding, to an arcuate cross-piece as (Fig. 4) having removably attached thereto an arcuate bumper plate 41 held 'in place by nuts and bolts '48. Y

Adjacent its forward end, the main frame comprises a bed plate 49 (Fig. 5) rigidly attached to the tops of the side members 4t and front cross-pieces 45, as by welding. The gathering conveyor 4| and the drive means therefor are supported from this bed plate 49, as will be hereinafter explained in complete detail.

Adjacent its rear'end-the main frame is provided with a bed plate 59 (Fig. 4) which is rigidly attached to the bottoms of the side member-s it and the rear cross-piece 46. The bed plate 53 supports the single drive motor 224 which drives all of the apparatus on the loading machine, as

hereinafter described in full detail, and supports most of the gear mechanism for controlling said loading machine.

As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the truck 48 is mounted upon a pair of forward track engaging flanged wheels 5|, 5| keyed on axle 52 which is journaled in adjustable bearing boxes 53, 53 slidably supported upon guideways.

Gearing mechanism 55 is provided for track engaging flanged wheels 56, 56 mounted upon axle 51 journaled in bearing boxes 58, 58 slidable longitudinally in guideways 68, 66. Gearing mechanism 6| readily accessible from the side of the truck 48 is provided for adjusting the bearing boxes 58, 58 longitudinally in unison along the guideways 68.

The axles 52 and 51' are provided with sprockets which are connected together by a continuous chain to insure their movement in unison.. Axle 5'! also carries a drive sprocket by which it is driven, as described in full detail in the above mentioned patent application. It is thus evident that driving power will be applied to all of the track engaging wheels 5|, 5| and 58, 56.

The construction of the gathering conveyor 4| I is best seen by reference to Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5 and '7 of the drawings and comprises a turntable 68 formed by a bottom plate 69 provided at its rear end with a circular opening adapted to receive a journal bearing 10 (see Figs. 4 and 5) which is reinforced by a plate H and a ring 12, all rigidly attached together, as by welding. The journal bearing 1 is journaled to a casting 13 which is removably attached to the front bed plate'49. by virtue of screws 74 which threadinto a ring 15 welded to the bottom of said front bed plate 49, as clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 5 of'the drawings. It is thus evident that the turntable 68 is journaled to the truck about an upright axis provided by the casting 13 thereby providing for lateral swinging movement of the gathering con veyor 4|.

It will be evident that the thrusts received by the gathering conveyor 4| will be translated to the truck 40 through the casting l3 and thus this casting and the journal bearing" 10 associated therewith is made of very rugged construction.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the bottom plate 69 is removably attached to the casting 13 by a threaded ring 18 brackets 8|, 8i provided with pivot pins 82 upon.

which is pivoted the gathering boom 83 of the gathering conveyor 4| by means of brackets 84, 84 having apertures to receive the pins 82, which brackets 84, 84 are welded rigid with side members 85, 85 of said gathering boom 83. It will be evident that the boom 83 is swingable with respect to the turntable 68 about a horizontal axis provided by the pivot pins 82. The gathering boom 83 comprises a bottom plate 86 welded to a cross channel I0! which said bottom plate 85 is welded rigid with the side members 85, 85 and, at its 4 rear end, is substantially parallel with, and forms an extension of the top plate of tuntable 68.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the bottom plate 88 is provided with a flat working portion 81 adjacent its forward end which lies in a plane forming an angle with the plane of the major portion of said bottom plate 8%, said .two plates being connected by a smooth curve.

In other words, the bottom plate 88 is smoothly curved to form a working portion 81 at its forward end which is substantially horizontal thereof when at the mine floor, slightly sloping upwardly and rearwardly when the boom 83 is in its lowered position with the working portion 8'! sliding over the floor of the mine. This construction is particularly desirable to the end that the bottom plate 86 may work under all of the coal during the attack on the shot-down or semi-compact mass of coal.

As best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7 of the drawings, the bottom plate 86 carries a pair of laterally spaced gathering chain guides 38 and 89 forming a conveyor way between them and each formed by an outer grooved track member 90 grooved at its outer surface to receive the side bars and retaining gibs of the gathering conveyor chains designated generally 9|, 9!. That is, the track members 98 are provided qwith grooves and retaining flanges to keep the gathering conveyor chains 9|, 9! in proper position. Cover plates 92, 92 extend between the opposite sides of each track member 98 to prevent any material accumulating therebetween. Reinforcing bars 93, 93 are provided inside each of the track members 98 and all of said members comprising bottom plate 86, track members 98, 93, cover plates 92 and reinforcing bars 93 are rigidly attached together by appropriate rivets.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the track members 98 extend substantially the full length of the gathering conveyor 4| and thus the gathering conveyor chains operate substantially throughout the entire length of said gathering conveyor. As a consequence, there is only one rehandling of the gathered material from the time it is first gathered by the gathering conveyor to the time it is discharged into the mine cars and this is during the time it is discharged from the gathering conveyor to the discharge conveyor.

It is furthermore to be noted by particular reference to Fig. 1, that the inner portions of the track members 90 are substantially parallel through the entire length. As a consequence,

there is no progressive squeezing action on the coal being loaded which can produce undesirable stresses and strains.

As was previously pointed out, the width of the bottom plate 86 is substantially constant through the entire length but at the front end attacking portion thereof it is curved rearwardly as seen at 94, to provide for a maximum amount of coal contact -of the flights of the gathering conveyor chains during operation.

It is also to be particularly noted that during the rearward portion of the travel of the conveyor chains 91 in their progress toward the front end of the gathering conveyor, the flights are spaced inwardly of the sides of the bottom plate 86 and are within the confines of the side members which are provided with appropriate cover plates 95, 95 (Fig. 1) attached to inner side wall cover plates 95', 95' (see Fig. 5). However, adjacent the forward end of-the gathering conveyor 4| the cover plates 95, 95 and the side members 85 are cut away and the outside track members diverge progressively as the front end is approached. As a consequence, the flights of the gathering conveyor chains 9| progressively move laterally beyond the edges of the bottom plate 86 adjacent the fiat working portion 87 thereof. These flights also, in moving around the front curved ends of the guide members 95, extend beyond the front extremity of the curved portion 9 of the bottom plate 85 to dig into, break down and gather the coal either in shot-down condition or in a semi-compact mass. This operation is described in more complete detail hereinafter.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, I also preferably provide a pair of electric lights .96, 95 on the gathering conveyor GI to illuminate the material being worked.

Since the gathering boom 53 of the gathering conveyor III is pivoted about a horizontal axis 82 with respect to the turntable 53 of said gathering conveyor 4 I, it is, of course, evident that the track members 90 must be broken at this pivot point. Asillustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, an extension for the track members til is provided at 97 to guide the conveyor chain 9! in its movement over the turntable 68. The extensions 9?, of which there will be one for each of the two gathering conveyor chains, provide guide paths on each side thereof leading both to and from drive sprockets 98 for which there will be one for each of the chains 9|, III. The extensions ill will, of course, terminate the guide track for the chains III, 9I adjacent the drive sprockets 98, 98.

Each of said extensions 91, 9! is provided with a rounded nos 39 (Fig. 5) adapted to extend into a pocket in the frame of the boom 83 and slightly spaced therefrom. This, of course, permits lim ited movement of the boom 83 about the horizontal axis provided by the pins 82, 82. It is also to be noted that protecting cover plates ItII are provided adjacent and above the top plate 80 of the turntable 68, which cover plates IM overlap the cover plates 95 (Fig. 5).

To provide for the vertical swinging movement of the boom 83 about the axis of pivot pins 8.2 I provide a double acting type of hydraulic piston motor mechanism best seen in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings and designated generally by the character I92, Said piston motor mechanism I52 comprises a bottom head casting I03 provided with trunnio-ns it? by which it is pivotally mounted upon a bracket formed by spaced plates I05, I05 rigidly but removably attached to frame members I65, I55 of the turntable 58 by nuts and bolts I01, I01.

Clamped rigidly between the head casting I53 and a piston rod receiving cylindrical head I58 by a plurality of elongated clamp bolts I09, provided with appropriate nuts, is a cylinder Ilfl. Within the cylinder III! is a piston I II formed by a pair of opposed sealing rings I I2, I I2 preferably made of leather or a composition to effect a perfect seal and carried upon a ringl I3 and clamped between clamp plates I I l clamped rigidly to a piston rod II 5 by a keyed nut H t. The head casting I I33 is provided with an inlet port III and the cylinder head I08 is provided with an inlet port H8. The piston rod I I5 extends through an appropriate opening in the cylinder head IIIB provided with an appropriate packing gland or stufling box I I9. It will be evident that fluid under pressure may be admitted either above or below the piston I I I to move it either upwardly o-r downwardly.

As described'in complete detail in the above mentioned parent application, the piston I I I may also be sealed and locked in any adjusted position. The upper end of the piston rod I I5 is provided with an upset head I20 receivedv fixedly but loosely in a channeled cross member |2I provided at its opposite ends with downwardly extending L-shaped hanger plates I22, I22 forming a yoke. The connection between the head I28 and the cross member I2I permits relative movement between them while insuring their attachment together.

The hanger plates I22, I22 have their horizontal portions provided with apertures through which extend rods I23, I23 pivotally attached at their tops by pins I25, I25 to a transversely extending bar I24 welded rigidly with the bottom plate 86 of the boom 83. Between the horizontal portions of said hanger plates I22, I22, I provide compression coil springs I26, I26. The bottom ends of the rods I23, I23 are threaded and receive adjusting and lock nuts I 2'3, I21.

It will be evident, particularly by reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings, that the boom 83 is supported upon coil springs I25, I25. When the loading machine, with the gathering conveyor II elevated, travels along the track about the same weight is carried'on the axles 52 and 51'. When at the face, the front end of the gathering conveyor II! i lowered until it rests on the mine floor. This takes a great amount of weight off the front axle and, except for springs I25, I26, would throw the machine out of balance to such an extent that the front wheels 55, 5I might raise off the track and derail the machine. Also, sometimes the front end of the gathering conveyor 4! climbs up a roll in the mine bottom. The springs I25, I26 insure suificient load on front wheels 5i, 5| to keep them on the track rails under all normal conditions and prevent derailment.

By reference particularly to Fig. 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that adjacent the forward end of the truck it: and extending upwardly through the front bed plate d9 thereof, is a plurality of rollers I28 mounted upon stub shafts I29 carried by the spaced plates of the front crosspiece 45. These rollers I28 bear against an arouate bearing plate I35 carried on the bottom plate 69 of the turntable I38 and thus provide an antifriction support for the front end of the turntable 68 of saidtruck at. In other words, the turntable 58 will be supported upon the truck till by the journal bearing I0 and by the rollers I28 and bearing plate I36. To insure upward movement of the truck it in case the forward end of the gathering conveyor AI is operated to return the front wheels 5| of the truck to the mine rails, I provide an arcuate lifting plate I3! (Fig. 5) which extends under the forward edge of the front bed plate 49 and is rigidly attached to thebottom plate 69 of the turntable 58 by screws I 32 threaded in an arcuate spacer I33.

To provide for the swinging of the gathering conveyor 4! about the axis of casting I3 I provide a very simple and compact arrangement in the form of a hydraulic piston motor I35, best seen in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings, comprising a cylinder I35, pivotally attached at its rear end to abracket I36 formed rigid with the main frame of the truck at, and a piston carrying a rod I3! pivotally attached to a bracket formed. rigid with the turntable 58 of the gathering conveyor M. The piston motor its is of the double acting type. That is, it may be moved under power in reverse directions and with the system comprisin my invention, may be locked in any adjusted position. It is to be noted that this hydraulic piston motor is entirely within the confines of the loading machine truck 49 and thus does not increase the width of said machine. It is furthermore to be noted that it is highly protected and therefore cannot be easily damaged.

Attention is now directed particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 8 to 13, inclusive, and to the construction of the gathering conveyor chains 9| and the gathering flights which they carry. Each of said gathering chains 9| comprises a plurality of main links I39 formed by spaced retaining gib carrying side bars interconnected with a plurality of connecting links I40 formed in two parts which are pivotally connected about horizontal axes formed by pins MI. The main links and connecting links are pivotally attached together by pins I42. The pins |4| and I42 make a snug fit with the connecting parts whereby the chain will be relatively rigid except for movement about rectangularly disposed horizontal and upright axes provided by said pins MI and I42. That is, each chain 9| will be free to pivot about a horizontal axis so that the chain can travel over the irregular surface of the bottom plate 86, and

also free to pivot about a vertical axis so the chain can travel around the continuous generally orbital path provided by the track members 99. For any other movement the chain will be relatively rigid which is particularly desired'in carrying out the rather heavy work required of the gathering chains 9|.

As illustrated in Fig, 3 of the drawings, I pivotally attach to every sixth main link I39 a gathering flight I43 of the construction illustrated in detail in Figs. 9, l and 11 interspersed with alternate gathering flights I44 of the type illustrated in detail in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings. The essential difference between the gathering flights I43 and I44 lies in the fact that the former carry removable bits or picks I45 which are particularly effective to dig into and break down a semi-compact mass of material while the gathering flights I44 are devoid of such bits or picks.

Each of the gathering flights I43 comprises a body having an upstanding serrated rib or comb I46 which forms a scraping face and extends generally at right angles to the path of travel of the chain 9| with the free outer end concavely curved forward and terminating in a bottom point I41 which extends beyond the forward edge of plate 86 as it passes around it and rides rearwardly on said plate 86 during its return movement. The rib I46 progresses in height from a minimum adjacent the point I41 to a maximum adjacent the opposite side thereof where it terminates at a position on the opposite side of the chain 9|. That is, the serrated rib I46 extends laterally from both side runs of the chain 9| to a position above said chain 9 I. As a consequence, there is a positive movement of material by the flights I43 over a very extensive area including the area above the chain 9|. Each flight I43 is pivotally attached to a main link I39 by a pin I48 to permit pivotal movement with respect thereto. Extending rearwardly from the main body of the flight I43 is an arm I49 provided with an abutment I59 adapted to abut against a cam I39 on the following main link I39 and provided with a bit receiving socket II adapted to receive the bit or pick I45 which extends upwardly and outwardly in trailing relation to rib I49.

In view of the fact that the entire gathering flight I43, as well as the gathering flight I44,

are made of a casting of extremely hard material, it is not possible to form threads in said flight and thus I provide a set screw I52 to hold the bit I45 in place, having in cooperation therewith a removable threaded nut I53. As a consequence, a receiving aperture for the set screw I52 is cast during the formation of the gathering flight I43.

To prevent rotation of the nut I53 a holding ledge I54 is provided adjacent one of the flat faces of the nut. As previously stated, the construction of the gathering flight I44 is substantially the same as that of the flight I43 except the socket I5I and the bit or pick I45 is eliminated. A detailed description of the gathering flights I44 appears unnecessary.

By referring to Figs. 8, 9 and 13, it will be seen that the lower leading edge of each of the flights I43 and I44 is curved when viewed in plan although such leading edge occupies a single plane when viewed in elevation because such edge of each of the flights I43 and I44 is a scraping edge adapted to slide along the bottom of the conveyor trough that is located between the adjacent lengths of the conveyor chains, as shown in Figs. 1 and '1. The upper serrated rib I43 is also curved as viewed in plan so that it will meet the outer end of the lower curved scrap-- ing edge at I41. It will thus be seen by referring to Fig. 8 that the gathering surface between the lower leading scraping edge and the upper serrated rib IMS is an approximately concave surface so that the flight has a wedge formation transversely thereof or parallel to the chain and also a wedge formation longitudinally of the flight to facilitate frontal attacks by moving the whole machine along the mine track.

The upward and lateralextensions of the serrated ribs not only increase the size of the V-shaped kerfs produced at the base of the standing shattered mass of coal but also serve as extensions of the gathering faces of the flights. The cover plates 95, have inner side walls 95', 95, as shown in Fig. 1, these inner side walls being vertical and parallel and spaced from the edges of the trough along which the conveyor flights scrape, as shown in Fig. '1. The upper ends of the serrated ribs extend over the adjacent lengths of the conveyor chains to positions closely adjacent the inner side walls 95, 95' and therefore these extensions serve to scrape material along the top plates which cover the chains, as

shown in Fig. '7. It will thus be seen that when the flights move along in closely adjacent pairs I43, I44, as shown in Fig. l, the scraping and flight actions for transferring material extend entirely across the space between the vertical parallel inner side walls 95, 95. Such arrangement serves to materially increase the capacity of the pair of endless gathering conveyors.

As'clearly seen by reference to Figs. 1 and '1 of the drawings, the opposite gathering conveyor chains 9| are so placed in operation that the bit carrying flights I43 of one conveyor chain 9| are directly opposite the free flights I44 of the other conveyor chain 9| during the movement of said conveyor chains 9| while conveying material from the front end of the gathering conveyor 4| to the rear end thereof. It has been found in practice that this is the best and most efficient arrangement of parts.

As clearly seen by reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings, there will be no binding of the conveyor chains 9| by coal particles because a pick or bit I45 on one chain 9| is never opposite a.

bit or pick I45 on the opposite conveyor chain.

It will also be evident, particularly by reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings, that the inclining of the serrated ribs or combs of the flights I43 and I44 will prevent any binding due to properly along the center of the troughway the fact that large coal lumps will be moved v upwardly and free themselves should any bind ing start to take place. 7

Attention is now directed particularly to the construction of the discharge conveyor 42 as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Said discharge conveyor 42 comprises three articulated parts including a stationary hopper I55 supported upon the front bed plate 49 of the truck 59 by spaced side brackets. The hopper I55 is removably attachedto the side brackets by nuts and bolts. The hopper I55 comprises spaced side members I58 and a downwardly inclined rear chute I59 (Fig. 5) formed integral with said side plates I58. The chute I59 is adapted to receive coal as it discharges from the rear end of the gathering conveyor M over the top plate 86. A guiding arcuate apron I68 is carried by the top plate 88 in overlapping relation with the chute I59 to insure the proper reception of coal by said hopper I55 without any loss thereof. The chute I59 is of generally conical form thus permitting free rotation of the apron I88 with respect thereto.

.It may also be pointed out that the side plates 18 of the turntable 68 have rearwardly extending deflector wings I6I, I6I which extend over and partially into the arcuate chute I59 of the hopper I55 thus guiding the material discharged by the gathering conveyor 4| into the hopper I55 (Figs. 1 and 5). The hopper I55 is provided with a chain guiding bottom plate I62 (see Figs. 4 and 5) which is primarily adapted to guide the return flight of the conveyor chain associated with the discharge conveyor 52. A feed plate I63 is provided adjacent the forward end of the chute I59 in the hopper I55 and feeds the material onto a material supporting false bottom plate I64 of the hopper I55 over which bottom plate I64 the upper run of the flight carrying conveyor chain I65 of the discharge conveyor 42 travels to convey the coal rearwardly and discharge it onto the cars 43.

Pivotally attached to the hopper I55 by means of spaced side brackets I66, I66 (Fig. 4) carried by side members I61, I61 and journaled on pins I68, I68 is a discharge boom I69. It is evident that the boom I69 is pivoted about a horizontal axis formed by pins I68 for vertical swinging movement with respect to the hopper I55 and the truck 66. The discharge boom I69 is formed in two parts comprising the forward part I 10 and the rearward part I1I which are pivotally attached about a vertical axis, the'rearwardpart I1! being swingable horizontally about said vertical axis. The forward part I19 of the boom I69 comprises a bottom plate I12 which acts somewhat, as a continuation of the bottom plate I62 of the hopper I55.

Positioned above the bottom plate I12 is a material supporting false bottom plate I13 which forms a continuation of the material supporting false bottom plate I64 of the hopper I55. Extending successively along the false bottom plates I64 and 113 is a pair of spaced guiding and retaining angle members I14 and I15, respectively. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, these angle members I14 and I15 cooperate with retaining gih on the conveyor chain I65 to retain it in place while permitting longitudinal movement thereof, at the same time guidingit 'veys the material.

formed by the false bottom and side plates of the discharge conveyor 42.

Extending downwardly from the false bottom plate I13 and in alignment with the angle members I14, I14 I provide angle members I16 which form a guide and support for the return run of the chain I during its travel along the forward part I19 of discharge boom I69. Opposite the angle members I16 and carried on top of the bottom plate I12 is a wear strip I11 which also aids to support the return strand of the chain I65.

As clearly indicated by reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings,.the rearward part "I of the discharge boom I69 comprises spaced side plates I18, I16 between which extends a bottom plate I19 above which is positioned a material supporting false bottom plate I which is a continuation of the false bottom plate I13 and over which the conveyor chain I65 travels and con- The forward end of the rearward part I'II has attached to the false bottom plate I88 contacting plate means I8I which is pivotally attached by a pivot I82 to the rear end of the false bottom plate I13.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the rear end of the false bottom plate I13 and of the bottom plate I12 are formed on the arc of a circle, the center of which is along the axis of the ivot I82. Likewise, the forward end of the bottom plate I19 and the false bottom plate I86 are formed on the arcs of slightly larger circles than those of plates I12 and I13, respectively, whereby a continuous surface is provided in each case for any swinging position of the rearward part I II of the discharge boom I69.

It is also to be noted by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings, that angle members I83 are provided on the bottom of the plate member I8I to form a guide for the return strand of the chain I65 leading up to the pivot point provided by pivot I 82.

Adjacent the break between the bottom plates :12 and I19 I provide a lower wear plate I84 on plate I19 and laterally spaced guide plates I85 on member IBI. These plates I84 and I85 serve to guide and direct the return strand of the chain Its so that their gibs enter the guideways of the angle members I83.

Adjacent the rearward arcuate end of the bottom plate I12 I provide an arcuate bearing plate I86 upon which rolls a pair of rollers 38I (see Fig. 2) carried at opposite sides of the front end of the rearward part I1I of discharge boom I69, by brackets 382, which, with the pivot I82, support the rear part I1I of the discharge boom I69. Adjacent its rearmost end the rearward part I1I will be provided with a centrally positioned discharge sprocket mounted upon an adjustable shaft I81 (see Fig. 3) upon which sprocket the conveyor chain I 65 will ride. At the forward end of the discharge conveyor 42 (see Fig. 5) I provide within the hopper I55 a centrally disposed guide sprocket I88 for said chain I65.

To effect a driving of the chain I65 I provide a drive sprocket I89 (see Fig. 4) mounted on a shaft I90 by a hollow sleeve which shaft I90 is J'ournaled in the rear end of the side members 559 of the hopper I55. To maintain the chain 565 in meshing relation with the drive sprocket 89 I provide a curved wear shoe I 92 mounted on the false bottom plate I64.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the chain I65 carries a plurality of spaced flights I93 which, during the upper run of the chain 11 for: are adapted to scrape over the false bottom plates 534, I13 and I83 successively thereby to convey material rearwardly from the hopper I55 and discharge it into the cars 43.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, the means for swinging the discharge boom I69 about the horizontal axis provided by the pins I63, comprises a single acting hydraulic piston motor mechanism 94 comprising abracket I95 rigidly attached to the bottom of the bottom plate I12 to which is pivotally attached a cylinder I96 having a head I91 provided with an appropriate inlet port I98 within which cylinder extends a cylindrical piston I99 provided at its top with a clamped leather or compound sealing ring 250 which makes a leak-proof sliding fit, within which cylindrical piston I99 is a guide cylinder ZiiI within which extends a coil spring 232 mounted upon a pivoted coupling member 203 having an upstanding guide rod 204 which extends into the coil spring 202 and into the guide cylinder 20I, the coupling member 203 being pivotally attached to a bracket 205 formed integral with the rear bed plate 50 and the bumper plate 41 of the truck 40.

It is evident that the coil springs 202 will provide a flexible support for the discharge boom 39 for any position of adjustment thereof, thus relieving any strain caused by a large lump of oal on the boom striking the top of the mine roof or for any other similar cause; The guide rod 204 provides a guide and retaining means for the coil spring 202.

It will be evident that by admitting fluid under pressure to the port I98 or discharging it by said port, the piston I99 may be adjusted in the cylinder I96 to expand or contract the hydraulic piston motor mechanism I94 thus swinging the discharge boom IE9 about the horizontal axis provided by the pins I68. By locking the fluid in the cylinder I96, as hereinafter described, the boom I69 may be locked in any elevated position.

Attention is now directed particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, and to the construction of the means forswinging the rearward part I1I of the discharge boom I69 with respect to the forward part I13 thereof. It may be mentioned that to provide continuous side walls for the discharge conveyor 42 for any position of adjustment of the rearward part I1 I with respect to the forward part I18, each of the side plates I18 carries a pivoted arcuate extension side plate 236, the free end of which is urged into contacting relation with the side plate I67 by a coil spring 291 coiled about an extensible rod pivoted at one end to a bracket rigid with the plate 206 and extending through a bracket 2ID formed rigid with the side plate I18. As the rearward part I1I of the boom I33 swings about the axis of pin I82, the free end of the plate 205 will move forwardly and rearwardly in contacting relation with the side member I61 thus forming continuous sides for the discharge boom 42.

To cause swinging movement of the rearward part I1! of the boom I69, with respect to the forward part I16 thereof about the axis of pin I 82 (Fig. 4), I provide a bracket 2H formed rigid with the bottom plate I12. Pivotally attached to bracket 2 is a rod 2I2 the rear end of which is pivoted to a sliding head 2I3 of a hydraulic piston motor 222. Said hydraulic piston motor 222 comprises a cylinder rigidly attached to a side plate of rearward part I1I of discharge boom 569 within which is a piston attached to a piston rod 2 I 4.

12 It is evident that upon operation of the hydraulic piston motor 222 the rearward part I1I of discharge boom I69 will swing about the axis of pin I82. The motor 222 may be locked in any desired position of adjustment to lock the rearward part I1I of discharge boom I69 in position. In actual practice this angle of swing is made approximately eighty degrees. It may also be mentioned that the angle of swing of the gathering conveyor M is also app y e ty degrees.

This ability to swing the discharge boom by fluid pressure motor operated mechanism provides for the loading of cars on tracks adjacent the track which supports the loading machine and, in addition, provides for the loading of cars while the loading machine is on a curved track. It is also useful in traveling around curves while tramming the loading machine to an operating position.

Attention is now directed particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, and to the drive means for the various devices to be driven. At the outset it may be stated that only a single or common electric motor 224 is relied upon as the primary source of power to effect a driving of all of the devices of the loading machine. Said electric motor 224 is mounted upon the rear bed plate 59 of the truck 40 and compactly positioned below the discharge conveyor 42 which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the hopper I55. Due to this positioning of the electric motor 224 it is possible to provide a very large and powerful motor which is capable of effecting any and all of the drives required at any time while maintaining a machine of low height to permitits use in a relatively low head coal mine. Said electric motor 224 is provided with a forwardly extending armature shaft 225 (see Fig. 4) carrying a drive pinion 226 meshing with a bevel ring gear 221 which is rigidly attached to the housing 228 of a friction clutch mechanism 229. The housing 228 is keyed to a vertical shaft 236 which is mounted at its top in a bracket 23I rigidly attached to the main frame ,of the truck 48, there being an anti-friction ball bearing 232 interposed between the bracket 23I and the shaft 230 which is held in place by a removable cap 233. The bottom of the shaft 239 is supported in a bracket 234 formed rigidwith the bottom plate 53, said support being through an anti-friction ball bearing 235. Keyed to the lower end of the shaft 230 and above the bearing 235, is a bevel gear 236. It may thus be noted that the gear'221 and the gear 236 being both keyed to the shaft 233, will be driven toether at all times from the motor 224.

J ournaled loosely on the central portion of the shaft 230 is a clutch member 231. Splined on the interior of the housing 228 and on the exterior of the clutch member 231, which members 228 and 231 comprise cooperating clutch members, is a plurality of overlapping stacked friction plates alternate ones of which are connected to the housing 228 and the clutch member 231, respectively. Adjacent its bottom the clutch member 231 is provided with an integral extended flange to which is keyed a gear 240. The flange, in addition to supporting the gear 240, also acts as one compression member for the friction clutch plates.

To effect a compression of the clutch plates and thus to effect an engagement of the clutch elements 228 and 231, I provide a compression ring 24I within the housing 228 having a flange which bears against said clutch plates; Downward movement of the. ring 2M to efiect the aforementioned compression action is effected by a plurality of pins 242 which extend through apertures in the housing 228 and are carried by a ring 243 operable through an anti-friction ball bearing operable by a trunnion collar which is controlled by a shipper 245- keyed ona shaft 241 which shaft 241 is journaled at one end in an upwardly extending plate rigidly attached to a false bottom plate 249 which, in turn, is rigidly attached to the main frame of the truck 40.

It will be evident that rocking movement of theshaft'241 to urge the collar downward will cause an application of the friction clutch 229 to drive the gear 245 and when the shaft 241 is released the clutch 2 29 will automatically become disengaged due to lack of sufficient clamping pressure on the clutch plates.

It may be stated that the gear 240 which is controlled bythe clutch 229 is individual to a gear train for drivingv the gathering conveyor chains 9 I. This gear train will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 4 and 5. The

gear 248 meshes with idler gear 25| mounted upon an anti-friction supported shaft 252 journaled in a cup 253 rigidly and removably attached to front bed plate 49, which gear 25| in turn meshes with a large gear 254 carried by a shaft 255 on anti-friction bearings in the previously described casting 13.

It is to be particularly noted that since the vertical axis about which the gathering conveyor 4| swings is along the axis of the shaft 255, power can be transmitted to said gathering conveyor through the gear 254 while the gathering conveyor is in any desired position of adjustment. The large gear 254 meshes with one of a pair of inter-meshing large gears 256, 255 which are journaled in the bottom plate 69 and top plate 80 of the turntable 58 and which drive the previously mentioned sprockets 93, 98 through shafts 251, 251. It is thus seen that the two drive sprockets 98 are driven in reverse directions and at the same speed, thereby to drive the gathering chains 9|, 9| at the same speed and in reverse directions, with the flights on one chain in fixed relation to the flights on the other chain.

The gear train which is operative to drive the truck 46 either forwardly or reversely and at either a fast trammin or transportation speed or at a low feeding or sumpingspeed is not completely disclosed herein as it forms no part of the invention herein claimed. It is disclosed in full detail in the parent application.

In the interest of clearness, many of the details of the loader which are disclosed in full in the parent application are not herein disclosed because they are not, per se, a part of the invention herein claimed. For example, the aforedescribed clutch operating shaft 241 is operated by ahandle 456 (Fig. 2) adjacent an operators station at one side of the machine, said handle being spring biased to clutch disengaging position.

In addition, there is a gear train between the beveled gear 236 (Fig. 4) and the truck axles 52 and 51 including a pair of alternately engageable clutchesoperable by a handle 44l (Fig. 2) to effect selectively reverse driving of the loader. This gear train also includes speed ratio varying gears so that the drive may be either at a tramming or at a working speed.

Still further, there is a gear train extending from said beveled gear 236 to transverse shaft I90 (Fig. 4) which drives chain I85 through sprocket I89 as above described. This gear train includes a friction clutchoperable by a lever 3|8 (Fig, 2) located adjacent the operator's station, from which extends a cable to a handle 324 adjacent a trip ridersr station near the rear end of the loader, whereby both the loader operator and trip rider can control the operation of conveyor chain I65.

The loader is also provided with an electric feed cable 329 (Fig. 1) mounted on a power driven reel 325.

Also, the loader includes a hydraulic system having as a part thereof the four aforedescribed hydraulic piston motors I02, I34, I94 and 222. There is an individual control valve for each of these motors adjacent the operators station; These'four valves are seen at 31I, 314, 315 and 318 in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The two valves 315 and 318 which control the swinging of part ill of boom I69 are also operable from the trip riders station by virtue of extensions to handles 423 and 424.

In the operation of the loader comprising my invention, it may be trammed along a trackway in a mine to the place where the loading operation is to take place. During this tramming operation the drive wheels of the truck will be driven at their fast speed and the electric cable will be paid out freely. The gathering conveyor will be elevated with its front end above the tracks and both the gathering and the discharge conveyors may be controlled by the operator who rides on a small platform on the truck 40 adjacent the above described controls, to swing said gathering and discharge conveyors, as required by the travel of the loader along a curved track.

When the loading machine has reached the place where the coal is to be loaded, which coal has been previously cut and shot, with part thereof formed as loose coal and part formed as a semi-compact mass, the driving gears will be changed to drive it at a slow or sumping speed. The operator will then adjust the gathering conveyor 4| and the discharge conveyor 42, the

former by lowering it in contacting relation with the mine tracks or, if the first operation is to take place adjacent the side of the mine tracks to lower it into contact with the mine floor with the discharge conveyor 4| positioned to discharge into a mine car 43.

With the conveyor mechanisms of the discharge and gathering conveyors set into operation, and with the front end of the gathering unit resting on the mine floor in advance of the mine track, the entire machine may be fed forwardly providing a frontal attack of the gathering conveyor 4| on the coal at the bottom of the mass of material to be loaded. The flights I43 and I44 will dig into the loose or semi-compact coal and feed it to the gathering conveyor 4 I.

One special feature of operation of my device lies in the fact that the gathering flights I43 and M4 of the gathering conveyor 4| attack the coal at the same time and in opposite directions to secure a balancing effect, thereby reducing to a minimum any tendency for the loader to jump off the tracks during the operation of the gather ing mechanism.

A further very important feature of th operation of the flights I43 and I44 also lies in the wedging action which they have due to the inclined serrated rib or comb I46. Due to this construction the flights tend to wedge under the coal, particularly when in a semi-compact mass, thereby breaking it down and at the same time providing 'a'minimum of degredation due to the lack-of a striking action comparable with a hammer blow;

It may also be mentioned that a low degredation is realized with my loader due to the fact that there is only a single rehandling of the coal by the loader, namely, at the hopper I55. This, of course, is realized by virtue of the fact that the gathering conveyor unit comprises continuous gathering mechanisms which operate through substantially the entire length thereof.

It is also to be noted that due to the fact that flights 43 and I44 extend laterally over the opposite edges of the flat working portion 8'5 of the bottom plate 86 there is no tendency for the gathering conveyor to become wedged in the pile of coal, particularly when it is in the form of a semi compact mass. Furthermore, a swinging or side attack on the coal may be carried out due to this particular construction, This is particularly usefill in e, final clean-up for, in general, I prefer to operate the device as a frontal attack loading machine.

The power transmission mechanism connected between the motor 224 and the pair of endless conveyor chains on the gathering device GI, comprises the gear 240 on the vertical shaft 230 of Fig. 4. The gear 24H meshes with the gear 25! which in turn meshes with the gear 254, and the latter is in mesh with one of the gears 256. Since the gears 25!; mesh with each other, the flights of the gathering conveyor are in such fixed relation to each other that they travel in pairs, in opposite directions, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The startin and stopping of the pair of endless chains of the gathering conveyor are controlled by the clutch 229 shown in Fig. 4. During normal operation of the gathering conveyor the flights move in pairs towards the discharge conveyor 42 and therefore the motor 224 should be continuously operated in the same direction.

The hopper I55 is capable of storing coal when the discharge conveyor 42 is discontinued while changing mine cars. That is to say, the hopper i55 enables the gathering mechanism to be kept continuously in operation even when mine cars are being changed. The rear end of the gathering mechanism is extended to a relatively high elevation to efliciently deliver the gathered coal to the hopper.

Should a lump of coal get caught between the rear end. portion of the gathering conveyor and the roof of the mine chamber, the crowding and wedging action will be downward against the upwardly extending serrations of the flights I43, I44 (Fig, '7) and against the points of the cutter bits I45, thereby effecting a crushing of the unusually large lumps of coal so that delivery of the coal to the discharge conveyor need not be interrupted. If there is an overload on the gathering conveyor chain 9| due to contact between flights I43 or IM and solid or irremovable coal the friction clutch 229 will slip, whereupon the proper clutch will be operated to cause the machine to move rearwardly thereby causing the conveyor flights I43 and M4 to release the contacted coal and relieve the overload.

Under the control of the lever 314 shown in Fig. 2 the operator may control the swinging of the gathering conveyor on its pivotal connection at 255 to the truck frame 4%, and during such swinging movement of the gathering conveyor-its frame 88 rests at its forward-end onthe rollers 128, as shown in Fig, 5. A single reciprocating hydraulic motor E34, pivotally connected at its ends to the truck frame and the gathering conveyor frame, is relied on to swing the forward end of the gatherin conveyor to various angular positions relative to the mine track. The gathering conveyor may be locked in its angular adjusted position when the loading machine is to be sumped or withdrawn rectilinearly parallel to the mine track, but it should be understood that the reciprocating hydraulic motor I34 is sufliciently powerful to swing the forward portion of the gathering cOnVeyor in either direction for lateral attack on a semi-compact mass of shot down coal, and at various elevations illustrated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 2.

After a mine vein has been undercut and shot down it may remain standing for several feet back from the face in a semi-compact mass termed a standing shot. Some of this may be tight at various elevations but the frontal attack of the gathering unit may be relied on to effect dislodgment of such semi-compact mass onto the receiving end of the gathering unit. The outer ends of the flights reach out beyond the gathering head and move along the mine bottom, the rearwardly and upwardly extending serrations tending to form a V-shaped kerf at the base of the upstanding mass so that the Dicks following the flights can easily tear the coal loose to cause it to fall forward onto the gathering head plate. The coal thus loosened sometimes falls from the standing mass in large quantities necessitating retraction of the loader in readiness for another forward gathering movement to load the loosened coal. While in some instances by reason of the serrated flights and the picks mounted thereon, the coal may be dislodged from a mine vein without drilling and blasting, the main purpose of such flights and picks on a gathering conveyor is to attack semi-compact masses of coal to loosen the same while loadin operations are being carried on. I

I prefer to mount the bits or picking fingers or tools M5 on alternate flights so that two spaced serrated flights will move in advance of each picking tool. This can readily be seen by referring to Fig. 1. It will also be seen'by referring to Figs. '7 and 9 that the picking tools extend diagonally upwardly considerably above the path of the serrations of the flights. Consequently the picking tools are able to penetrate the upper inclined wall of the V-shaped kerf sufficiently to tear loose the standing shattered coal and cause it to fall forward toward the gathering head plate.

The discharge conveyor comprises two sections Ill] and "I (Fig. 4), with the rear section I'II movable laterally on the upright pivot I82. Hydraulically operated mechanism comprising the hydraulic motor 222 is controlled by the valve lever 315 to effect power swinging of the rear section of the discharge conveyor. By means of the mechanisms 238, etc., the continuity of the sides I61, I61 and I18, I13 ofthe discharge conveyor 42 is maintained notwithstanding the fact that the discharge conveyor comprises a single endless chain I65 having links pivotally connected on vertical and. horizontal axes, this chain being similar in construction'to the chain 9 I as shown in Fig. 3.

The cable reel 325 (Fig. 1) may be operated by power to wind up the cable 329 which contains the insulated wires connecting the motor 224 to the distant source of electric power supply.

It is preferred that a main loader operator should be in a position to operate all of the controlling levers and that another operator should be able by means of extended actuating connections, to control adjustments of the discharge conveyor independently of the operation of the gathering conveyor. As the mine cars are brought up, loaded, and replaced by empty cars, a rear operator or trip rider-may start and stop the discharge conveyor and adjust the elevation ofthe rear end thereof as well as its lateral po-' sition. The main operator will know when the discharge conveyor stops without looking backward and thus stop the gathering conveyor to prevent overflow from hopper I55.

It should be understood that when the gathering conveyor unit is swung laterally the hopper I55 of the discharge conveyor apparatus remains stationary. The rearwardly extending wings I6I', IBI' shown in Figs. 1 and 5 have their lower edges in overlapping relation to the upper semicircular edge of the semi-funnel shaped chute I59. Such Wings Nil, Nil move bodily with the gathering conveyor unit. As the flights leave the rear edges of the plate 80 they move away from each other and any material thrown laterally will be deflected by the wings I51, I61 into the hopper I55. Furthermore, such wings extend upwardly from the lateral edges of the chute I59 to co-operate with the latter to deepen the hopper I55.

Certain features herein disclosed are disclosed and claimed in my following application and patents: Application Ser. No, 699,784, Mining loading machine, filed Sept. 27, 1946; Patents Nos. 2,303,372, Loading machine, granted December 1, 1942; 2,353,051, Loading machine, granted July 4, 1944; 2,353,052, Loading machine, granted July 4, 1944; 2,362,647, Clutch operated mechanism, granted N ovembe'r'l l, 1944; 2,366,536, Loading machine, granted January 2, 1945,- 2,377,505, Clutch control, granted June 5, 1945; 2,400,835, Clutch, granted May 21, 1946'.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and I therefore wish not to be restricted'to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what'I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a digging and loading machine, the com bination with a frame, traction means for supporting and feeding said frame rectilinearly, conveyor mechanism mounted on said frame and having a laterally swingable discharge boom extending rearwardly of said frame for discharging coal into areceptacle, means for digging gathering coal and delivering i t to said conveyor, said means including a gathering boom having a bottom plate, a pair of laterally spaced chain guiding means mounted on said plate and spaced apart to provide a material conveying way between them of substantially uniform width, endless chains, one on each of said guiding means for conveying coal rearwardly along said way, a plate fixed to said frame against tilting movement and forming an extension of said bottom plate and over which said chains travel and convey said coal, delivering it frdm said fixed plate to said conveyor, drive shafts, one for each of said chains, mounted on fixed axes relative to said fixed plate and extending upwardly and each having a chain driving sprocket at its upper end, coal digging and gathering means carried by said chains including removable bits connected to said chains, means mountingsaid gathering boom for swinging movement relative to said frame about IS a horizontal axis adjacent'sjaid fixed plate, power operated means for swinging said gathering boom about said horizontal axis,and means for swings'aid gathering boom laterally.

2. In a digging and loading machine, the combination with a frame, traction means for supporting and feeding said frame rectilinearly, conveyor mechanism mounted on said frame and having a laterally swingable discharge boom extending rearwardly of said frame for discharging coal into a receptacle, means for digging and gathering coal and delivering it to said conveyor, said means including a gathering boom having a bottom plate, a pair of laterally spaced chain guiding'means mounted on said plate and spaced apart to provide a material conveying way between them of substantially uniform width, endless chains, one on each of said guiding means for conveying coal rearwardly along said way, a plate fixed to said frame against tilting movement and forming an extension of said bottom plate and over which said chains travel and convey said coal, delivering it from said fixed. plate to said conveyor, drive shafts, one for each of said chains, mounted on fixed axes relative to said fixed plate and extending upwardly and each having a chain driving sprocket at its upper end, coal digging and gathering means carried by said chains including removable bits connected to said chains, means mounting said gathering boom for swinging movement relative to said frame about a horizontal axis ad acent said fixed plate, and power operated means for-swinging said gatherin-g boom about said horizontal axis.

3. In a digging and loading machine, the combination with a frame, traction means for supporting and feeding said frame rectilinearly, conveyor mechanism mounted on said frame, means for digging and gathering coal and delivering it to said conveyor, said means including a boom having a bottom plate, a pair of laterally spaced chain guiding means mounted on said plate and spaced apart to provide a material conveying way between them of substantially uniform width, endless chains, one on each of said guiding means for conveying coal rearwardly along said way, a. plate fixed to said frame against tilting movement and forming an extension of said bottom plate and over which said chains travel and convey said coal, delivering it from said fixed plate to said conveyor, drive shafts, one for each of said chains, mounted on fixed axes relative to said fixed plate and extending upwardly adjacent said fixed plate and each having a chain driving sprocket at its upper end, coal digging and gathering means carried by said chains including removable bits connected to said chains, means mounting said boom for swinging movement relative to said frame about a horizontal axis adjacent said fixed plate, and power operated means for swinging said boom about said horizontal axis.

4. In a digging and loading machine, the combination with a frame, traction means for supporting and feeding said frame rectilinearly, conveyor mechanism mounted on said frame, means for digging and gathering coal and delivering it to said conveyor, said means including a boom having a bottom plate, a pair of laterally spaced chain guiding means mounted on said plate and spaced apart to provide a material conveying way between them of substantially uniform width, endless chains, one on each of said guiding means for conveying coal rearwardly along said way, dri'vesha'fts, one for each of said chains, mounted on axes fixed against tilting movement relative to said frame and extending upwardly and each having a chain driving sprocket-at its upper end, coal digging and gathering means carried by said chains including removable bits connected to said chains, and means mounting said boom for swinging movement relative to said frame about a horizontal axis,

5. A machine of the class described comprising a truck having a frame, traction means for feeding said truck frame rectilinearly, a discharge conveyor having a hopper and supported on said truck frame, said discharge conveyor including a portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from said hopper and a laterally swingable rear portion, a driving motor for said truck traction means and said conveyor mounted on said truck and positioned below said conveyor, a combination coal digging and gathering mechanism mounted on said truck and adapted to dig and gather coal and deliver it to said hopper, said mechanism including a rear plate fixed to said truck frame against tilting movement and a forward boom pivoted about a horizontal axis adjacent said fixed plate and having a bottom plate which is substantially a continuation of said fixed plate, said boom having a pair of spaced chain guides forming a conveyor way between them, endless chains on said guides, digging picks on said chains, said guides having a normal position of their front ends adjacent the mine fioor when the machine is in operation and being formed with horizontal portions adjacent their forward ends to dig under standing coal when in operation, and means for driving said endless chains to dig into said coal and convey it rearwardly and discharge it into said hopper.

6. A machine of the class described comprising a truck having a frame, traction means for feeding said truck frame rectilinearly, a discharge conveyor having a hopper and supported on said truck frame, said discharge conveyor including a portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from said hopper and a laterally swingable rear portion, a driving motor for said truck traction means mounted on said truck and positioned below said conveyor, a combination coal digging and gathering mechanism mounted on said truck and adapted to dig and gather coal and deliver it to said hopper, said mechanism including a rear plate fixed to said truck frame against tilting movement and a forward boom pivoted about a horizontal axis adjacent said fixed plate and having a bottom plate which is substantially a continuation of said fixed plate, said boom having a pair of spaced chain guides forming a conveyor way between them, endless chains on said guides, digging picks on said chains, said guides having a normal position of their front ends adjacent the mine floor when the machine is in operation and being formed with horizontal portions adjacent their forward ends to dig under standing coal when in operation, and means for driving said endless chains to dig into said coal and convey it rearwardly and discharge it into said hopper.

'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of digging and gathering conveyor mechanism mounted on the front of said main frame, means providing for pivotal adjustment of the front of said conveyor mechanism about a horizontal axis while holding it against rectilinear movement relative to said main frame whereby its front end can be raised and lowered, a discharge conveyor mounted on said main frame, said digging and gathering conveyor mechanism including a pair of laterally spaced chain guides forming a material conveying way between them, endless digging and gathering chain means on said guides adapted to dig and gather coal and convey it rearwardly by a continuous uninterrupted movement from the time it is first dug and gathered until it is delivered to the receiving end of said discharge conveyor, said discharge conveyor comprising three articulated parts, one of which forms a receiving hopper rigidly attached to said main frame and positioned to receive coal discharged from said digging and gatheringconveyor, a second part of which is pivotally mounted relative to said receiving part about a horizontal axis, and the third part of which is pivotally mounted relative to said second part about a vertical axis, a continuous conveyor mechanism running through all parts of said discharge conveyor to convey material therealong, and means for feeding said main frame rectilinearly together with said digging and gathering conveyor mechanism and said discharge conveyor to gather and load material.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of gathering conveyor mechanism mounted on the front of said main frame, means providing for pivotal adjustment of the front of said conveyor mechanism about a horizontal axis while holding it against rectilinear movement relative to said main frame whereby its front end can be raised and lowered, a discharge conveyor mounted on said main frame, said gathering conveyor mechanism including a pair of laterally spaced chain guides forming a material conveying way between them, endless gathering chain means on said guides adapted to gather coal and convey it rearwardly by a continuous uninterrupted movement from the time it is first gathered until it is delivered to the receiving end of said discharge conveyor, said discharge conveyor comprising three articulated parts, one of which forms a receiving hopper rigidly attached to said main frame and positioned to receive coal discharged from said gathering conveyor, a second part of which is pivotally mounted relative to said receiving part about a horizontal axis, and the third part of which is pivotally mounted relative to said second part about a vertical axis, a continuous conveyor mechanism running through all parts of said discharge conveyor to convey material therealong, and means for feeding said main frame rectilinearly together with said gathering conveyor mechanism and said discharge conveyor to gather and load material.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of gathering conveyor mechanism mounted on the front of said main frame, means providing for pivotal adjustment of the front of said conveyor mechanism about a horizontal axis while holding it against rectilinear movement relative to said main frame whereby its front end can be raised and lowered, a discharge conveyor mounted on said main frame, said gathering conveyor mechanism including a pair of laterally spaced chain guides forming a material conveying way between them, endless gathering chain means on said guides adapted to gather coal and convey it rearwardly by a continuous uninterrupted movement from the time it is first gathered until it is delivered to the receiving end of said discharge conveyor, said discharge conveyor comprising two pivoted parts the rearmost one of which is pivotally mounted for adjustment about a vertical axis so the discharge end thereof may be shifted laterally of said main frame, power operated means for adjusting said conveyors about their pivots, a continuous conveyor mechanism running through all parts of said discharge conveyor to convey material therealong, and means for feeding said main frame rectilinearly together with said gathering conveyor mechanism and said discharge conveyor to gather and load material.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of gathering conveyor mechanism mounted on the front of said main frame, means providing for pivotal adjustment of the front of said conveyor mechanism about a horizontal axis while holding it against rectilinear movement relative to said main frame whereby its front end can be raised and lowered, a discharge conveyor mounted on said main frame, said gathering conveyor mechanism including a pair of laterally spaced chain guides forming a material conveying way between them, endless gathering chain means on said guides adapted to gather coal and convey it rearwardly by a continuous uninterrupted movement from the time it is first gathered until it is delivered to the receiving end of said discharge conveyor, said discharge conveyor comprising two pivoted parts the rearmost one of which is pivotally mounted for adjustment about a ver tical axis so the discharge end thereof may be shifted laterally of said main frame, a continuous conveyor mechanism running through all parts of said discharge conveyor to convey material therealong, and means for feeding said main frame rectilinearly together with said gathering conveyor mechanism to gather material.

11. In a loading machine, the combination with a frame, of means for gathering coal and delivering it upwardly and rearwardly by continuous movement and discharging it intermediate the ends of said frame, a receiving and discharge conveyor mounted on said frame and adapted to receive coal from said gathering means and convey it rearwardly by continuous action until discharged therefrom, said discharge conveyor including an endless chain extending continuously from its receiving to its discharge end, said gathering means including a forwardly extending elongated boom adapted to be fed rectilinearly while gathering coal, a plate mounted on said frame and held against tilting movement, said boom beingpivotally mounted on a horizontal axis and having a bottom plate forming a continuation of said first named plate, a pair of laterally spaced power drivenshafts extending upwardly through said first named plate, sprockets on said shafts, a pair of endless chains extending forwardly from said sprockets to positions adjacent the forward end of said boom, gathering flights on said chains adapted to travel beyond the front end of said boom and gather coal, a pair of laterally spaced guides on said boom bottom plate constructed to guide said chains and form a continuous material way between them extending from the front to the rear of said boom, said flight carrying chains and boom providing mechanism to gather coal adjacent the front end of said boom and convey it continuously thereby until discharged onto the receiving end of said receiving and discharge conveyor, means for adjusting said boom about its horizontal axis, and means for feeding said machine rectilinearly as a unit to force the front of said boom into coal to be gathered.

NILS D. LEVIN. 

